EP0722866A2 - Mechanische Gelenkstangen - Google Patents

Mechanische Gelenkstangen Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0722866A2
EP0722866A2 EP95308265A EP95308265A EP0722866A2 EP 0722866 A2 EP0722866 A2 EP 0722866A2 EP 95308265 A EP95308265 A EP 95308265A EP 95308265 A EP95308265 A EP 95308265A EP 0722866 A2 EP0722866 A2 EP 0722866A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
link arm
tube
plastics material
mechanical
connection
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP95308265A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0722866B1 (de
EP0722866A3 (de
Inventor
John Edward Smith
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Automold Ltd
Original Assignee
Automold Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Automold Ltd filed Critical Automold Ltd
Publication of EP0722866A2 publication Critical patent/EP0722866A2/de
Publication of EP0722866A3 publication Critical patent/EP0722866A3/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0722866B1 publication Critical patent/EP0722866B1/de
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16H—GEARING
    • F16H51/00—Levers of gearing mechanisms
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60S—SERVICING, CLEANING, REPAIRING, SUPPORTING, LIFTING, OR MANOEUVRING OF VEHICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60S1/00—Cleaning of vehicles
    • B60S1/02—Cleaning windscreens, windows or optical devices
    • B60S1/04—Wipers or the like, e.g. scrapers
    • B60S1/06—Wipers or the like, e.g. scrapers characterised by the drive
    • B60S1/16—Means for transmitting drive
    • B60S1/18—Means for transmitting drive mechanically
    • B60S1/24—Means for transmitting drive mechanically by rotary cranks

Definitions

  • This invention relates to mechanical link arms, and is concerned more particularly, but not exclusively, with mechanical link arms for use in automotive applications, for example for use in windscreen wiper mechanisms or gear change mechanisms.
  • the link arm which is pivotally connected at its opposite ends to the link members and serves to transmit drive from one of the link members to the other link, is subjected to high tensile and compressive loading due to its reciprocating motion and the resistance to movement of the wipers over the windscreen, and it is therefore necessary for the link arm to have sufficient strength to withstand such loading over prolonged use whilst being of lightweight construction.
  • the link arm is formed by a hollow metal tube having open ends within which plastics socket connectors are secured by crimping for the required pivotal connections to the link members.
  • the fabrication of such a link arm requires the forming of three separate components and an additional assembly step in which the connectors are crimped within the ends of the tube.
  • the resulting assembly is both light and strong, it effectively prevents flexing of the arm in the event of mechanical overloading of the mechanism, for example due to snow or ice on the windscreen, with a result that such overloading may rapidly result in burning out of the motor.
  • a mechanical link arm comprising a tube of plastics material integrally formed by moulding at at least one end with a pivot linkage which closes off said one end of the tube and which serves for connection to a complementary pivot linkage provided on a separate mechanical component to which the link arm is to be connected.
  • Such a link arm can be produced in one piece in a single fabrication step, and is therefore capable of being manufactured at significantly less cost than the conventional link arm referred to above.
  • the link arm can be fabricated from a suitable plastics material so as to be both strong and light, and in addition so as to permit some flexing of the arm in the event of a mechanical overload so that such a mechanical overload will be less likely to cause burning out of the wiper motor.
  • the tube is integrally formed with pivot linkages at both ends which close off both ends and which serve for connection of separate mechanical components to both ends of the link arm.
  • the or each pivot linkage on the tube is preferably in the form of a socket connector for connection to a complementary ball connector provided on the or each separate mechanical component, or in the form of any other type of connector permitting freedom of rotary or linear movement between the link arm and the or each separate mechanical component to which it is connected.
  • the or each pivot linkage on the tube may be in the form of a ball connector or yoke or any other form of connector permitting freedom of rotary or linear movement between the link arm and the or each separate mechanical component to which it is connected.
  • the two pivot linkages may be of different types.
  • the link arm is formed from a thermoplastic polymer, such as a polyamide, polyester, polyacetal, polycarbonate, polyphenylene sulphide or polyetheramide, by a moulding process, such as gas injection moulding.
  • a thermoplastic polymer such as a polyamide, polyester, polyacetal, polycarbonate, polyphenylene sulphide or polyetheramide
  • the thermoplastic polymer may incorporate a reinforcement medium, such as glass fibres, glass beads or minerals.
  • the invention also provides a mechanical link arm for interconnecting two rotary windscreen wiper shafts comprising an elongate plastics member formed by moulding with integral pivot linkages at its ends for connection to link members on the wiper shafts.
  • the elongate member is preferably of hollow cylindrical form, although it may alternatively have a generally square, elliptical or U-shaped cross-section, and may optionally include external ribs. Either the inside or the outside profile of the elongate member may depart somewhat from a perfect cylindrical form, for example so as to be barrelled in form.
  • the invention further provides a method of forming a mechanical link arm comprising introducing a quantity of plastics material into a mould and injecting a substance, such as a gas, into the mould so as to cause the plastics material to be distributed within the mould to produce a tube of plastics material integrally formed at at least one end with a pivot linkage which closes off said one end of the tube.
  • the windscreen wiper link arm 1 shown in Figure 1 is manufactured as a one-piece moulding from a plastics material by use of a standard or suitably adapted injection moulding machine and with injection of gas into the mould to provide the required hollow structure.
  • the link arm 1 so produced is in the form of a hollow tube 2 of plastics material integrally formed at its ends with socket connectors 3 and 4 which close off the ends of the tube 2 and are provided for connection to complementary ball connectors provided on link members of the windscreen wiper mechanism which will be described in more detail below with reference to Figures 2 and 3.
  • Each socket connector 3 or 4 has a body 5 of generally circular form formed with a circular recess 6 for receiving the ball of the ball connector, and a flattened connecting portion 7 interconnecting the body 5 and the tube 2 which, for strengthening purposes, may be formed with a lower rib (not shown).
  • a suitable thermoplastic polymer moulding material (optionally incorporating a glass fibre, bead or mineral reinforcement medium) is introduced in molten form into the mould from the injection moulding machine nozzle by way of a suitably designed cold or hot runner feed system.
  • the feed point may be at any suitable position over the entire surface of the link arm 1 or associated connector 3 or 4, and may be by way of any suitable nozzle.
  • the material may be injected through a nozzle at a central point along the length of the mould.
  • mould insert assemblies may be located within the runner system or cavity wall where moulding material concentrations are required.
  • link arm 1 is of circular cross-section, it should be understood that alternative forms of link arm in accordance with the invention may be of box section or elliptical cross-section, or even of U-shaped cross-section.
  • FIGS 2 and 3 show a windscreen wiper assembly 20 incorporating such a link arm 1, respectively from the side and from above.
  • the mechanism 20 comprises a wiper motor mounting plate 21 connected to a fixed support 22 at the opposite ends of which are mounted two wiper drive shaft assemblies 23 and 24.
  • Reciprocating drive is imparted by the wiper motor (not shown) to a drive arm 25 which is pivotally connected to a link member 26 mounted on the drive shaft of the drive shaft assembly 24.
  • the link arm 1 is pivotally connected at its ends to the link member 26 and a corresponding link member 27 mounted on the drive shaft of the drive shaft assembly 23.
  • Figure 4 shows a link arm 31 in use for coupling a gear shift housing 32 to a gear box assembly 33.
  • the link arm 31 is manufactured as a one-piece moulding from a plastics material by use of a standard or suitably adapted injection moulding machine and with injection of gas into the mould to provide the required hollow structure.
  • the link arm 31 so produced is in the form of a hollow tube 34 of plastics material integrally formed at its end with yoke pieces 35 and 36 which close off the ends of the tube 34 and are provided for connection to complementary yoke pieces 37 and 38 mounted on shafts 39 and 40 extending into the gear box assembly 33 and the gear shift housing 32 respectively.
  • yoke pieces 37 and 38 are shown broken away in order to render the yoke pieces 35 and 36 more easily visible.
  • the yoke pieces 35 and 37 and the yoke pieces 36 and 38 are in each case coupled together by a pin 41 extending through apertures 42 in the yoke pieces.
  • Similar link arms or link arms of somewhat modified construction may be used in other automotive applications or in applications outside the automotive field, such as for a window stay.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Vehicle Body Suspensions (AREA)
  • Prostheses (AREA)
  • Seal Device For Vehicle (AREA)
  • Injection Moulding Of Plastics Or The Like (AREA)
  • Transmission Devices (AREA)
  • Chair Legs, Seat Parts, And Backrests (AREA)
  • Pivots And Pivotal Connections (AREA)
EP95308265A 1995-01-21 1995-11-17 Mechanische Gelenkstangen Expired - Lifetime EP0722866B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GBGB9501207.6A GB9501207D0 (en) 1995-01-21 1995-01-21 Mechanical link arms
GB9501207 1995-01-21

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0722866A2 true EP0722866A2 (de) 1996-07-24
EP0722866A3 EP0722866A3 (de) 1996-10-16
EP0722866B1 EP0722866B1 (de) 1999-03-31

Family

ID=10768369

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP95308265A Expired - Lifetime EP0722866B1 (de) 1995-01-21 1995-11-17 Mechanische Gelenkstangen

Country Status (5)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0722866B1 (de)
AT (1) ATE178279T1 (de)
CA (1) CA2166674A1 (de)
DE (1) DE69508729D1 (de)
GB (2) GB9501207D0 (de)

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0980801A3 (de) * 1998-08-14 2002-08-21 Valeo Electrical Systems, Inc. Scheibenwischvorrichtung- und Verfahren
JP2003527988A (ja) * 1998-08-14 2003-09-24 バレオ・エレクトリカル・システムズ・インコーポレイテッド ウインドシールド払拭システムおよび方法
US6742827B1 (en) 2002-11-27 2004-06-01 Valeo Electrical Systems, Inc. Plug-n-play module with integral motor connector
US6881373B2 (en) 2002-07-19 2005-04-19 Valeo Electrical Systems, Inc. Windshield wiping system manufacturing method
US7017224B2 (en) 2002-07-19 2006-03-28 Valeo Electrical Systems, Inc. Windshield wiper drive linkage arm with interior grooves
US7059009B2 (en) 2002-07-19 2006-06-13 Valeo Electrical Systems, Inc. Windshield wiper drive linkage arm with grooves
CN105889307A (zh) * 2016-04-20 2016-08-24 韦海报 一种吸滤机的脱水系统用连杆
CN112721264A (zh) * 2020-12-11 2021-04-30 爱驰汽车有限公司 折弯横杆的成型方法及前雨刮器系统

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2337801B (en) * 1998-04-23 2001-11-21 Jidosha Denki Kogyo Kk Link connecting rod for wiper apparatus
GB2339260A (en) * 1998-07-08 2000-01-19 Draftex Ind Ltd Restraining link
CN103770750A (zh) * 2012-10-18 2014-05-07 博世汽车部件(长沙)有限公司 用于车辆雨刮器的连杆

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2807673A1 (de) * 1978-02-23 1979-03-29 Rau Swf Autozubehoer Elektromotorische stelleinrichtung
US4388012A (en) * 1980-07-23 1983-06-14 Illinois Tool Works Inc. Swivel connector
DE3045504A1 (de) * 1980-12-03 1982-07-01 SWF-Spezialfabrik für Autozubehör Gustav Rau GmbH, 7120 Bietigheim-Bissingen Wischanlage fuer kraftfahrzeuge
GB2165912B (en) * 1984-10-11 1988-07-06 Trico Pty Ltd Link
DE3531858C1 (de) * 1985-09-06 1986-11-13 Daimler-Benz Ag, 7000 Stuttgart Scheibenwischeranlage,insbesondere fuer Kraftfahrzeuge
DE3919837A1 (de) * 1988-06-21 1989-12-28 Fister Spa Scheibenwischerbaugruppe fuer ein kraftfahrzeug

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0980801A3 (de) * 1998-08-14 2002-08-21 Valeo Electrical Systems, Inc. Scheibenwischvorrichtung- und Verfahren
JP2003527988A (ja) * 1998-08-14 2003-09-24 バレオ・エレクトリカル・システムズ・インコーポレイテッド ウインドシールド払拭システムおよび方法
US6785930B2 (en) 1998-08-14 2004-09-07 Valeo Electrical Systems, Inc. Windshield wiping method
US6881373B2 (en) 2002-07-19 2005-04-19 Valeo Electrical Systems, Inc. Windshield wiping system manufacturing method
US7017224B2 (en) 2002-07-19 2006-03-28 Valeo Electrical Systems, Inc. Windshield wiper drive linkage arm with interior grooves
US7059009B2 (en) 2002-07-19 2006-06-13 Valeo Electrical Systems, Inc. Windshield wiper drive linkage arm with grooves
US6742827B1 (en) 2002-11-27 2004-06-01 Valeo Electrical Systems, Inc. Plug-n-play module with integral motor connector
CN105889307A (zh) * 2016-04-20 2016-08-24 韦海报 一种吸滤机的脱水系统用连杆
CN112721264A (zh) * 2020-12-11 2021-04-30 爱驰汽车有限公司 折弯横杆的成型方法及前雨刮器系统

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB2297136B (en) 1998-04-01
GB9523520D0 (en) 1996-01-17
EP0722866B1 (de) 1999-03-31
ATE178279T1 (de) 1999-04-15
GB2297136A (en) 1996-07-24
EP0722866A3 (de) 1996-10-16
GB9501207D0 (en) 1995-03-15
CA2166674A1 (en) 1996-07-22
DE69508729D1 (de) 1999-05-06

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